Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Liz welcomes new tenants to Viewfield Appartments : " I hope there will be many more new Council houses in our area in years to come"

The flats on the site of the former bus station garage are now becoming occupied and one family that has recently moved in had a couple of special visitors to mark the occasion:

Councillor Liz MacDonald Leader of The Highland Council’s Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey Area Committee, and fellow Nairn Ward Member Councillor Laurie Fraser, recently welcomed tenants Amy Davidson and Keiran Gallagher and daughter Lily to their new home at Viewfield Apartments in Nairn.

Leader MacDonald presented the couple who now live in their first home at King Street with a bouquet of flowers marking the latest new council houses to be let in Nairn since those at Corsee Gardens.

The 12 new two-bedroomed and 4 one-bedroomed council homes in the 4-storeyed flatted development have been constructed on the disused site of the former bus station garage north east of the fire station.

Cllrs Liz MacDonald and Laurie Fraser welcome Amy, Keiran and daughter Lily to their new home.

Speaking at the housewarming, Leader MacDonald said: “I am delighted that Highland Council has been able to complete this development of new homes for Nairn and I am especially pleased that the many of the tenants taking up the leases are local people who have been on the waiting list for some time.

"As well as moving into homes built to a very high standard, the new tenants will be living in an excellent town centre location with many amenities close by.”

Councillor Graham MacKenzie Chair of the Council’s Community Service Committee added: “Highland Council is committed to working with the Scottish Government, Housing Associations and the private sector to help deliver 5,000 new homes by 2017. This new development in Nairn is an excellent example of how we are striving to meet the Council’s Programme of delivering at least 688 Council houses and other affordable homes within this overall housing commitment.”

Leader MacDonald said: “There has been a long waiting list in Nairn for affordable rented housing, and it is greatly encouraging to see first-class houses becoming available. It is heartening to see local people moving into these excellent brand-new homes, and I hope there will be many more new Council houses in our area in years to come.”

Heating and ventilation is provided by mains gas boilers. The completed properties have been built to energy efficient standards and incorporate with a whole house ventilation system, designed to improve ventilation and air quality.

The completed homes were built by Upland Developments Ltd. and contractor William Gray Construction on land owned by the Council. The project was funded by the Council as a part of the agreed Council House Build Programme with grant assistance provided by the Scottish Government.

The properties, which are being provided for affordable rent, are owned and managed by the Council.

6 comments:

And there will shortly be another large building in Viewfield coming vacant that could be converted so may be the objectors who have so far prevented other developments want think it was such a smart moveto get housing stopped for those in need

You are a bit predatory there anon. Although there are issues coming down the tracks with museum funding etc, it is still presently a going concern in Viewfield. That is assuming you mean Viewfield House?

We should be looking to rent rather than sell Nairn Common Good land, we need to leave a source of income for future generationsThe Viewfield apartments show that there is private land suitable for the building of council housing and with the change in the law with regard to buy to let these properties will remain in public ownership